With a mission to promote and contribute to the growth of the arts in Alberta, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts is a public organization and a provincial corporation of the Government of Alberta. To promote the expansion and improvement of the arts sector, we sponsor artists and art groups through grants. Additionally, we support the arts and oversee a sizable provincial art collection that includes creations by artists from across the province.
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is governed by the goals outlined in the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Act, 1991 and answers to Alberta’s Minister of Culture.
Art Acquisitions by Application
By acquiring their works as a permanent component of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Collection, this initiative supports a single Alberta artist or a group of artists. You can use this chance to apply to have your artworks bought and included in the AFA’s permanent art collection. View the current works of art that are part of the AFA Art Collection. The AFA purchases artwork at fair market value. The artwork of a specific artist and comparable works by other artists who are peers and work in related media are used to determine fair market value. Submissions are accepted for artwork in any one or more of the following categories:
- drawings, paintings, sculptures, and prints (excluding reproductions)
- ceramics, photography, glass, and mixed media
- fresh media (time-based media, electronic arts, audio art)
Application Closing Date: April 3, 2023
Ineligible Projects:
The AFA will not consider artwork produced during workshops or seminars, during the time of the formal art-training study, or resulting from art courses involving formal instructions. Applied arts such as gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic arts, and/or fashion design are not eligible for submission. New media works produced for commercial purposes are not eligible, and published books of photography images are not eligible for submission.
Check information about Small Business Grants in Alberta
Artist Manager Program Funding
By providing up to $7,500 for one eight-week professional development program each deadline, given by Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) in Toronto or Calgary, this financing promotes the growth of individual Alberta artist-managers and/or self-managed musicians. This financing opportunity is a part of our funding opportunity for music projects individual.
You have the chance to apply for project money to aid in your professional growth through this opportunity. Please be aware that no initiative will necessarily receive AFA financing.
Eligible costs
You are eligible to receive up to $7,500 to cover costs associated with the Artist Manager Program at Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI). Up to 100% of eligible costs directly connected to pursuing your professional development may be claimed.
These costs could consist of, but not be limited to:
- cost of registration
- transportation from and to Toronto, Ontario, and Alberta, roundtrip
- Roundtrip airfare from Alberta to Calgary, local transportation and lodging, meals, sundries, per diems, and any costs and supplies deemed fair and required by the AFA.
Application Closing Date
September 1, 2022, March 1, 2023
Community Support Organizations Operating Funding
This grant offers yearly funding to qualified not-for-profit community organizations that serve communities, including those with little access to the arts. This funding is intended to support the activities carried out by your organization following its mission, strategic plan, and/or business plan, as well as those that are detailed in your application and/or reporting.
To qualify for operating financing from Community Support Organizations, you must:
- your organization’s incorporation statement states that its primary mission is to promote and develop artists, train artists, and encourage public participation in the arts.
Your business needs to:
- be a not-for-profit organization that meets the following requirements: be in operation in Alberta for at least two years; be registered and in good standing with applicable laws; have at least 50% of the organization’s board members reside in Alberta, and be able to operate using good governance principles, effective administration practises, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility while upholding its mission
- function independently as an arts organization, keeping towns, businesses, and organizations and institutions that receive annual operating funding from the Government of Alberta at arm’s length
Typically, AFA operating financing covers costs like:
- Wages and costs for programming and administration
- maintenance of machinery and fixed assets promotion and other costs necessary to carry out your organization’s mission
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Dance Individual Project Funding
By giving funds for a specific dance project, this award can provide up to $15,000 to assist the growth of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists.
Purpose of this grant:
Please be aware that no initiative will necessarily receive AFA financing.
various project types
Through this chance, you can apply for project financing to support artistic activities in:
- marketing
- research
- both career development and training
Eligible costs:
Up to $15,000 can be given to you to help with your idea. Up to 100% of eligible costs directly connected to completing your planned project may be requested. These costs could consist of, but not be limited to:
Contractual artist and/or technician fees commission fees production promotions and publicity transportation and lodging tuition or training fees royalties’ administration and contract fees minimal living/subsistence costs (housing, local transportation, food, childcare, and dependent care) up to $3,000/month other expenses and supplies deemed reasonable and necessary by the AFA.
Application Deadline: September 1, 2022, March 1, 2023
Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship
This $5,000 prize is given each year to a young Albertan author who has exceptional talent in a genre that is eligible and who has specific aspirations for their school or career.
Applicants must:
- You must be an Alberta resident to qualify for financial aid. Accordingly, you must: be of legal age to enter or remain in Canada; have lived in Alberta as your principal residence for at least a full year before applying; normally spend at least six months of each year there, with the exception of while you are enrolled in a formal programme of study; and
- The application deadline requires that you be 25 years old or younger.
- You must be enrolled in a writing training course that qualifies.
Literary Genres Allowed:
The following types of creative writing contributions are acceptable for this scholarship program’s evaluation of aesthetic merit:
- brief fiction
- poetry
- play on stage
- play radio
- creative nonfiction
- script for a comic or graphic novel
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Film and Video Arts Scholarship
This $5,000 AFA grant, established in 2012, is given each year to a young Albertan film and video artist with exceptional potential in a film and video art form and who exhibits clear educational or training objectives.
Applicants must:
- You must be an Alberta resident to qualify for financial aid, indicating that you have the right to enter or remain in Canada.
- Typically dwell in Alberta for at least six months each year, with the exception of when enrolled in a formal programme of study, and have had your principal residence in Alberta for one full year before applying.
- The application deadline requires that you be 25 years old or younger.
- You must enroll in an approved film and video art training program.
Suitable training initiatives:
Your training program must be approved to be eligible for this award. The following film and video art programmes are acceptable for evaluation of educational or training merit:
- A recognized programme or right mentorship, workshop, master class, or course emphasizing film and video art is required for any level of undergraduate studies with a minor or major in film and video arts.
- The equivalent of a graduate programme is not eligible for consideration.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2023
Film and Video Individual Project Funding
By giving financing for a specific film and video art project, this funding can provide up to $15,000 to promote the professional growth of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists.
Individual qualification standards
Individual project funding is only available to Alberta residents. You are thus:
- who, by law, may enter or remain in Canada.
- can work legally in Canada
- typically dwell in Alberta for at least six months of every year, with the exception of when enrolled in a formal programme of study, and have had your principal residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying.
- To apply, you must be an AFA member with no pending projects or reports.
acceptable genres
The following, among others, are among the acceptable film genres for this funding opportunity:
- narrative features and shorts
- unconventional movies
- documentary
- animation
The applicant must have total editorial and creative control over the project in question and must have at least 75% of the project’s copyright to qualify for AFA financing.
Application Deadline: September 1, 2022, March 1, 2023
Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding
By funding a specific cultural or creative project, this sponsorship offers up to $15,000 to assist the growth of a single Indigenous artist, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists in Alberta.
Individual qualification standards
Individual project funding is only available to Alberta residents. You are thus:
- who, by law, may enter or remain in Canada
- can work legally in Canada
- Typically dwell in Alberta for at least six months of every year, except when enrolled in a formal programme of study, and have had your principal residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying.
To apply, you must be an AFA member with no pending projects or reports. Before new applications are accepted, previous grant winners must make sure that the AFA.No applicants have authorized all final reporting may be incorporated under provincial or federal law, including ensembles or collectives.
What is supported by this grant?
various project types:
Applying for project financing to assist creative and cultural endeavours is possible through this opportunity: production of art and culture, marketing, research, training, and career development
Application deadline: September 1, 2022, March 1, 2023
Literary Individual Project Funding
By offering to finance a specific literary art project, this opportunity offers up to $15,000 to assist the growth of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists.
Individual qualification standards
Individual project funding is only available to Alberta residents. You are thus:
- may enter or remain in Canada
- can work legally in Canada
- Typically dwell in Alberta for at least six months of every year, except when enrolled in a formal programme of study, and have had your principal residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying.
To apply, you must be an AFA member with no pending projects or reports. Before new applications are accepted, previous grant winners must ensure that the AFA has authorized all final reporting.
Applicants, including groups or collectives, cannot already be legally recognized as corporations under provincial or federal law.
Application Deadline
September 1, 2022, March 1, 2023
Major Arts Presenters Operating Funding
This grant offers money in three-year cycles to qualified professional organizations that stage sizable public performances in various artistic disciplines.
Suitable Candidates
To qualify for operating support from Major Arts Presenters, you must:
have artistic presentation as your organization’s primary mandate, as stated in your organization’s incorporation documents, engage in ongoing development, implementation, and promotion of arts presenting programming as your organization’s core primary activity in an annual programme of showcasing professional artists to the general public employ at least one full-time equivalent administrative and/or artistic staff member who is in charge of organizing and producing artistic performances and events
This financing is intended to support the activities carried out by your organization in accordance with its mission, strategic plan, and/or business strategy, as well as those that are detailed in your application and/or reporting.
Typically, AFA operating financing covers costs like:
- Wages and costs for programming and administration
- maintenance of machinery and fixed assets promotion and other costs necessary to carry out your organization’s mission
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
Music Individual Project Funding
Giving funds for a specific music project can provide up to $15,000 to promote the growth of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists.
Eligible costs:
Up to $15,000 can be given to you to help with your idea. Up to 100% of eligible costs directly connected to completing your planned project may be requested.
These costs could consist of, but are not limited to:
- Creating art projects
- commission costs, production royalties, and remuneration for session musicians
To Wrap Up
These are excellent ways to get money to support your work if you are a person who is truly engaged in the arts in Alberta. All of these grants need your artwork to support the funding goal and some forms of identification. Check them out now!
Leave a Reply